13-03-2004
Blood Donors
The mobile unit of the Blood Transfusion Services Board will be in town tomorrow (Thursday) at St. Patrick’s BNS from 4.30 to 8.30pm. All donors are asked to attend and encourage friends aged 18 years or over to become donors also.
Environment Group
MEG is organising an environ-mental information evening on Monday, March 8, at 7.45pm in Mountmellick Community School and all are welcome. Guest speakers include Basil Boyce, formerly University of Limerick and Lorraine Fitzgerald, Race Against Waste. For more information contact Storm MDA. MEG was establishing November 2001 when a number of people expressed interest in home composting. With funding from Laois Co. Council and MDASI, over 120 families to date have received composting bins. The group, who meet regularly, promote good environmental practice. They have organised visits to places of interest including ENFO, the Sunflower Recycling Centre and the Garden Heaven show. MEG is represented on the National Waste Awareness Campaign Race Against Waste.
Clonaghadoo NS News
The school is collecting tokens from the Irish Independent and would appreciate if they could be given to the pupils or left in to the school.
Lots To Entertain At Drama Festival
It will soon be time for Mountmellick’s great annual event, the eight night-long drama festival.
Organised by the Pioneer drama group with main sponsor Mountmellick Credit Union, this is an occasion which draws audiences from far and near with the very best in Ireland’s amateur drama groups on stage. Each play opens at 8.30pm in the concert hall.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, March 18, with Breffni Players from Carrick-on-Shannon staging John B. Keane’s highly popular The Playboy of the Western World.
Silken Thomas players from Kildare return to Mountmellick for another visit on Friday, March 19, with Marie Jones Woman on the Verge of HRT.
Another Kildare county group, the Moat club from Naas, take to the stage on Saturday, March 20, with The Hunt for Red Willie by Ken Burke.
Sunday, March 21, sees the staging of another old favourite, Juno and the Paycock by Sean O’Casey, performed by Estuary Players, Dublin.
Another favourite on Monday, March 22, will be the staging of John B. Keane’s Sive by Kilmuckridge Drama Group from Wicklow.
Carlow Little Theatre returns to Mountmellick on Tuesday, March 23, with Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus.
On Wedneday, March 24, Tinahely Drama Group from Wicklow stage Bernard Farrell’s 44 Sycamore.
On the final night, Thursday, March 25, Thurles Drama Group present Belfry by Billy Roche. This is also adjudication night when the winners of both the open and closed section will be announced and they go forward to the all-Ireland heats.
Season tickets for the festival are 30 for adults with tickets for individual nights being 7. Family and student rates are also available.
Citizen’s Info
Will be in attendance at the MDA, Irishtown, from 10am to noon or may be contacted at the Portlaoise office. Anyone who would like help with tax problems, social welfare entitlements, health, housing or any related problem is welcome to attend.
Grow Group
A Grow group meets each week in Mountmellick. If you are someone who experience depression or anxiety attacks or who is in need of company, do come along. You will have an opportunity to meet others, share problems in confidence, get support and make new friends. All are welcome. Meetings take place in the MDA, Irishtown, at 3pm every Monday
Comhaltas News
Music classes continue each Tueday evening in the sports complex with various classes from 6.45 to 9pm with music teachers Brian and Fiona Ryan. Irish day is being held on Monday, April 5, in the sports complex from from 10am to 2.30pm. Admission is 2 for members who show membership cards and 8 for non-members. This year, Mountmellick Comhaltas will again host the Laois fleadh on the June bank holiday weekend. Tickets are being printed to be sold to raise funding for the fleadh, so all help and support in selling tickets or any other preparation for the fleadh would be appreciated.
Rock Juvenile GAA
Training has resumed for all players at under-10, 12, 14, and 16 levels at the Rock pitch at 5pm on Saturday evenings. New players in the parish are always welcome and any players or parents seeking more information can contact John Allen, juvenile coach, please note that training for under-8s will begin this month.
Any parents who are interested in getting involved with underage teams should note that there is a foundation course taking place on Saturday, March 20, from 10am to 1pm and on Wednesday, March 24, from 7.30 to 9.30pm at The Rock. This course is open to all and details can be had from John Allen at the above numbers.
Welcome
The business community are happy to welcome the opening of a new video/DVD rental outlet at Sarsfields Street. This shop unit had lain idle for quite a long time and it is good to see business at that end of the town.
Glass Bottles
MEG are delighted to announce that outlets for glass bottle recycling are available at the Statoil station, Irishtown.
